The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-06-09
Home Influence versus Enacted
Laws.


To the Editor of the Statesman
Thanking you for the use of yonr col,
umns on last Sunday, am compelled to
ask similar favor, that L may convince
austin Mother No. 3" that the writer
does not possess false conceptions OF
the truth" nor did she convey any false
ideas. If she had pointed out in her
polite manner of writing, just what the
false conception was, 1t would have been
easier to have replied to her. The article
was written to establish the sound principles
and noble worth of those honored old
grandfathers, and induce the young peo-
pie of to day to be governed by principle
and not sentiment. Little did l think
that holding them up as generous, limo
cent, noble men would bring such q, SIAN
der upon their devoted lives. Read what
she says: 'rhat good old peach, etc,
created an appetite in the partakers and
their descendants, which it takes
eht vile stimulants of the present
time to satisfy. Read in the First Epi5tle
sOf Paul to Timothy, where he says Lay
hands suddenly on no man, neither be
partakers of other mems sins; keep thy
self pure. Drinkno longer water, but fake
little wine for thy stomachs sake and
thine infirmities.'
Do you hold the apostles responsible
for our "grandfather5' sideboards," and
our modest, noble grandmOthers for their
beer, the choral and morphine our fash
iOnable women take TO make them sleep:
Shame on the men and women who thus
SANDER our ancestors. If Il have a fal Q
conception of the origin of the crusaders,
the press and persons who have seen them
are responsible. My information dates
back perhaps twenty years. l am fully
aware there are noble women engaged
in the work at the present time; good peo-
pie sometimes get bad notions in their
heads. David" was a man after Gods
own heart, yet he got some very bad ideas
in his mind. We do not believe that two
wrongs ever made a right, or that the
lend justifes the means" where lndivid.
ual rights are involved. / would much
rather be accused of having false con-
ception of truth than make the follow
ing acknowledgment: at is not in the
power of woman to make her home as
attractive as to be safeguard against the
temptations and alurements which beset
her husband and sons on every side in
town and CITY, How many Austin mothers
will protest against that? | say. God
pity the nation, if the influence of mother
and home is to be supplanted by law; it is
fair acknowledgement that the church
and parents cannot control and influence
those committed to their care, and the
law must DO it. The observance of law
through fear, makes towards of men, and
they no longer deserve a free government.
T l. 80
ton in regard to the anguish of such a
fate, and your very kind wish that prohi-
bition shall speedily come to the rescue
of all such women. As there are no
drunkards in my family to rescue, the
sympathy is lost. Permit me to say.
however, if theae we're l should not dis
grace their manhood by IN ming them over
to the law. or getting my neis hbor to act
as spy, and make couvicts of them. | would
try little more patience, endurance and
moral suasion and loving entreaties, and
| am quite sure that / would not send
them ont 10 make prohibition speeches,
for could not rely upon their influence.
If this is a moral and religious question,
let Us reason about it as the best method
of dealing with ii. | was in sister city
not long ago; l was conversiug with lady
resident; when nice looking gentlemen
passed, she remarked, there is a reformed
bar-keepel. Our minister was thrown
with him, liked him and used his intlu
ence to get him to change his business; he
did so, and to-day he is doing we'll" How
many OF our prohibition friends have done
the same. How many ministers can say
II wash my hands OF the social vices OF
the present day! l have IN every instance
enforced the laws of my church. The state